We won!..............

On saturday, William and I went off again to our second competition at Patchetts. The weather wasn't to bad in the morning but we were doing the last class so we didn't have to leave until 12, the wind had picked up but nothing to extreme. By the time we hit the M1 it was horrendous with driving rain and very strong gusts of wind. It was a moment of 'why am I doing this?' but we got there safe and sound with enough time to relax and have a cuppa before walking the course.
It walked ok, it was a two phase course, up to height, but it wasn't a course I thought would suit Will very well with lots of related distances at the beginning that I thought he would have lots of chances to get strong and away from me but I was liking the jump off fences with some good turns and lots of chances for me to be able to bring him back.
Well I obviously don't know what i'm talking about as it was completely the opposite as he went in and jumped like a star, all the related distances were no problem and the major hiccup was in the jump off when I turned to fence 11 and he completly locked onto the fence next to it. With a bit if a 'DON'T YOU DARE' I only just about managed to switch him off and get him to realise that wasn't the actual fence we were after.
The class was a lot more technical to jump than I first realised but there were 35 in the class and we won with the ONLY clear round so I was hugely impressed with him.
Earlier in the day I had made a comment and said " if I get placed and have to go in a line up, I have to come first as he freaks if they all canter off without him". It was only a joke but I might have to use that one again as it worked (and they let me sneak off before they did the lap of honour, safer for everyone I think.lol)
So big pats and polos for William this week and an owner with a big smile on her face. :)

Time has flown.........

I have been extra extra busy for the last couple of weeks. We have now finally launched the new Chillton Rug Range, ranging from 1200d light weight turnouts to heavy weight combos.

William had the honour of posing for the photos and I think he made a grand job. I had to keep him in for 3 days to keep him clean!

We are offering 10% off these rugs at the moment and they are all in the winter range so you really can bag yourself a bit if a bargain.

Along side launching the rugs we also have had in a new range of SSG Gloves. Now I don't know if you have used these before but they really are a fantastic long wearing riding glove and I am particularly loving the 'Glove for Hope' gloves at the moment which support breast cancer. I feel not only do I have smart hands, I am supporting a worth while cause as well!

Then we have our new Hi-Viz range from Rambo. The excellent Hi-Viz exercise sheet plus a Hi-Viz Horseware Vest and we are throwing in a FREE Horseware Baseball Cap that has 5 LED lights on the front. Fun but highly practical for walking in the dark and missing the rabbit holes.

We also have the Harry Hall Yale Country Boots, again very practical and stylish for the yard and some lovely Caldene breeches and one of them has a bit of added Bling Bling.

AND before I forget, the Rambo Fleece Lined Chaps with are just so comfortable for yard or riding and are waterproof, windproof, breathable and have a reflective strip down the outside leg for added safety. You get these with a FREE pair of Horseware socks as well.

Well thank goodness it's Friday as after doing all this lot, I need a nice rest over the weekend, spending some quality time with my horse. Oh... I have a lesson tomorrow at 8am, what was that I said about needing a rest?

And here is some pictures of Will that didn't make it to the website :)

I did it, I did it at last............

Saturday saw me having an absolutely fantastic day out at Patchetts with William.

I went for a day trip with my friend Nicki who is at the same yard as myself, and thought it would be a good chance to give him a ride round in a show environment again without actually competing.

So much for me thinking he would be an idiot. He was such a good boy and was totally unfazed about being at a show again.The good thing about Patchetts is there is room, lots of it and we were able to have a beautiful schooling session outside with no-one else around and he was so good I decided to have a jump... well, why not!

I was so organised :) I had no white or beige breeches and no jacket so cue me trying my hardest to squeeze into my friends breeches (she is a few sizes smaller than me with legs twice as long), but I succeeded. I couldn't breathe but I was in, and Patchetts very kindly let me go in without the correct jacket but I did smile nicely.

Well, the bell went and we exploded!!!! 14 fences, as it was 2phase, was a lot to take in but it was to late now, we were off. The first 5-6 fences were interesting and we bounced and lept about on every approach but jumped the fences 3ft higher than they actually were, however, after the 6th we really settled down into a forward rhythm and completed the course in a slightly better manner than when we started. He loved it, I loved it and I am now on the look out for the next outing. I have the bug back!

At Cybercheckout, I have been very busy getting in lots of new stock and promotional ideas. We are all stocked up on our medium and heavy weight rugs from Horseware. A new delivery has arrived today of SSG gloves (which I have to admit are rather lovely), Fleece lined waterproof chaps and Hi-Viz gear, which this time of year we cannot live without, especially if you meet drivers like I met out hacking yesterday (yes you, Mr Silver Range Rover man!)

We also now have a new line of Caldene breeches which look fab and one style even has a little bling on the pocket for you, but they are very flattering even for my stump legs and stretch nicely. If you go to the website, in the clothing section there is a lovely Caldene Badminton Jacket. I love it and I have already put one aside for myself, just waiting for Pay day, but if you can, I would, they are lovely!

And we are off...............

Well, I never did make it to the competition on Sunday, I am beg, stealing and borrowing lifts at the moment, due to no transport and my lift didn't happen. Not to worry, I am off to Patchetts on Saturday and it has given me more time to put some work into the jumping.

I have worked on the ground poles, I have also done a tiny little cross pole (but it felt great), so we have now progressed onto grid work. I set out a bounce grid running down the long side of the arena. Pole, Cross, Pole, Cross, Pole, Cross. This really made William come back to me and think about what he was doing. I kept it simple, trot in, bounce through and canter away, trot, halt. Very impressive for Will. Took it all in his stride, nice and relaxed and felt smashing. The best I have jumped him in years actually.

The thing with Will is that I don't need to worry about the height of the fences, I know, he knows he can do it, he is more than capable so our aim at home, is keeping it small and simple but above all controlled and relaxed and do the fun stuff at the competitions. So far so good.

Saturday, I made the most of the daylight and the sunshine and went for a lovely hack on my own for a good hour and a half. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was nice to spend some time not on a time limit and rushing around to get home etc. Yesterday we went in the field for a school around..........we will just brush that one aside......less said about that the better I think........our leg yielding is fantastic though! :)

Desperately trying to find time to get another clip in as this first clip really hasn't lasted that long and he gets terribly hot, the trouble is, I have a few clips booked in for other people for the next few weekends so I can see me trying to battle it out in artificial light at 8pm in the evening. I'll let you know how it looks the next morning!! Oh, I do loathe the winter nights.

It's all a bit scary...........

Before I begin waffling on about myself and what I have been up to I want to say a HHUUUGGGEEE congratulations to Team GB at the Europeans but my major well dones are saved for Piggy French and Some Day Soon (Edward) who got Individual Silver. Edward is owned by a very good friend of mine and I have followed his progress from the beginning when he was first being ridden at Nick Turners yard by Lucy Kempley. Lucy and Nick have done a fantastic job on a highly talented but highly quirky horse and I just adored being able to shout at the telly cheering on a horse I actually knew. Well done to everybody involved from the owners to the grooms, you deserve it all.

So apart from wanting to pin a poster of Edward to Will's stable wall to give him some inspiration, we have been busy working on lots of pole work and lunge jumping.

I tried the double bridle out but it didn't all go to plan, the bridle was a bit big and just didn't sit right making the bits not seem in the correct place in his mouth. It certainly wasn't atrocious so I gave it a go but even though Will didn't do anything wrong, he didn't feel right so 15Min's in, I got off and popped his pelham on. He immediately felt a lot more relaxed so I am not saying the Double isn't right for him but I think that bridle was wrong for him, sensitive sole he is.

I used the Pelham to do all of his pole work and it has been fine so far so I think I shall leave it at that for now. As Will hasn't jumped for so long I decided the best thing for both of us was to lunge jump a few times at first, he is a lot calmer on the lunge without me trying to interfere(!) and it will give his muscles a chance to get used to it again. He was good as gold and looks to be thouroughly enjoying himself. I have done all the pole work and Wednesday saw me attempting to try canter poles. This has never been our best exercise but it has to be done (I decided that) and I was pleasantly surprised. Very good and only a couple of blips which I can live with.

Sunday see's me going out to a competition with a friend of mine. I am just taking Will for the ride out really and not planning to compete. The aim is to just ride him around in a show atmosphere again, keeping him chilled, no stress ready for a few weeks time when we get out to a proper competition. However, I know what i'm like so i'm taking my clothes with me just incase he is going very nicely and I decide just to go for it. You never know!!!!!

Work is hectic! All these rugs you keep buying :):):) We have just had a fresh delivery of stock in and it is flying out the door. Absolutely fantastic. I should also have my new range of rugs in at the end of this month, this is exciting but very scary. I have so much work to do for this but I am very proud of them and I haven't had a negative comment as yet from the people who have been testing them for me. I am sure you will all support me on this long road and I welcome ALL feedback on these. Not long to go *chews nails nervously* but hang on in there.........

We have progress......

William has been a little star lately. As I mentioned previously, I changed his bit over because of all the 'issues' we were having with life in general. He is now being schooled in a rubber pelham with double reins. Well what a change in pony, he is loving this bit and has completly changed his attitude to work. I dont even have to touch the second rein, he is light and responsive and making my life just a little bit easier.

Before I owned Will, he was on a show jumping yard and ridden in a double bridle. When I bought him, we went back to basics and we found a happy medium on the flat with a Myler Comfort Snaffle and a Myler Combination for jumping. Obviously we have progressed through the years and I now feel ready to try him again in the double. His attitude and abilty have progressed so this week I have begged, stealed and borrowed a double bridle from a friend of mine and I shall be trying this out and I will update as we go along.





Friday saw us doing our first bit of pole work, only trotting poles but this is William we are talking about, however he didnt even flick an ear and happily mooched over them without a care in the world. This is great for me as I have an event planned for mid October and was wondering how long I would need to spend in orbit before we could get on with some decent pole work and jumps. The weekend saw me doing some happy hacking and this week, apart from the bridle change, sees me doing some lunge jumping and more ground work.


I clipped him yesterday so I had all of about 12 hours of a gorgeously clean grey. This morning, I was greated with a lovely poo stain all down his neck and rubbed nicely in his mane. Oh the joys.................

New range of Tottie clothing now in!

And I love it. We have Polo Shirts , Hoodies , Gilets and various other items of clothing in now. I am into Grey and Pink at the moment. These are my 'in' colours for the season so I am loving the Charcoal colour that is out in Tottie at the moment. I think it is exceptionally smart with your Jodhpurs (and having a grey, the hair blends in nicely) and also teamed up with jeans, they look great around the town as well.

As you can imagine my pay packet doesn't last long working here, by the time I have bought all my rugs that I dont need, and then bought all the new clothing it doesn't leave a lot for the important things like bills. Thank god for husbands! But as we say, you can never have enough Jods and fleeces..........or is that just me?................